Courts

Retired monsignor pleads not guilty to sexual assault charge

Published

6 years ago

June 3, 2019

A retired La Crosse priest pleaded not guilty to a charge of 4th degree sexual assault.

Monsignor Bernard McGarty did not personally appear in court Monday to be charged with allegedly approaching a woman on a park bench and offering to pay her for sex.

The incident reportedly happened in May, outside the main branch of the La Crosse Public Library.

The 94-year-old McGarty is on leave from the La Crosse Diocese while his case is in court.

Judge Todd Bjerke asked McGarty’s attorney to try reaching a settlement in the case before the next scheduled hearing on Aug. 8.

Related Topics:4th degree sexual assault La Crosse Public Library Monsignor Bernard McGarty

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.